The Whole Systems Approach

Congratulations to Bill and Cindy Adams on their Whole Systems Approach. In all my thirty years in leadership coaching and organizational development, this is the most coherent manual for corporate change that I have come across. Not only do they successfully show us how to apply living systems theory to large systems change they do so in a practical, balanced, step-by-step manner. Most importantly, they emphasize the need for leaders to engage in their own transformation, to value "not knowing" and to involve everyone in the change process. I highly recommend this book to anyone attempting change in organizations. It's a great book of tools that will raise your spirits regarding what's possible in the world.

There are books on change written mostly by people who have watched change and then written about it. This is written from the trenches by people who have worked in the trenches. They have captured how complex and , sometimes heartbreaking, the process of change in a business. And they have the scars to show for it. This should...MUST...be mandatory reading for anyone attempting to change their business.

I started my business with a sales background, so I knew how to get it up and running, but managing it was a greater challenge. This book taught me to view my business from a greater perspective, not just as an exercise in generating sales. I got a copy for all of my employees and every staff meeting we reviewed one of the "Vital Conditions". It is mandatory reading for every new hire!

As an organizational consultant I found this book leaps and bounds ahead of the others. The information in this book is so valuable, I've recommended it to several of my clients (not a common practice).